TENT PhD* Application of interest

Context

TENT PhD is a three-year global program for artists, curators, and researchers who wish to order their practice into a long-term trajectory with peers from their field. Using the same structure as an academic Ph.D., it challenges its participants to formulate and shape a timeline with tangible outputs shared with other participants. In this way, the participants make up a network of mutual support and accountability during a longer timeframe.
The PhD is not an academic program, but a performative frame borrowed from academia. As such, certain cornerstones are borrowed from existing Ph.D. programs, others are discarded or translated to fit the existing life and challenges of present-day culture workers. One of the main pillars of the program is the (re)formulation of a purpose that is directly related to the practice of each participant. It is synonymous with the research question of an academic program, a concise guide (or reminder) for the individual participant through which their practice and shared works can make sense in a longer timeframe.

For this first round of applications, we are asking for a brief application of interest, which should take 15 minutes or less to fill in. If you have any questions, or prefer to submit a video recording, write to banyantent@gmail.com

The program is addressed to cultural workers (performers, curators, researchers) who are in a time of their life where they have the desire and merit to embark on a long-term trajectory with their practice together with an extended network.

• Who has an idea that can be executed in a long-term trajectory with peer support
• Who is facing challenges and/or lack of purpose in their field.
• Who is willing to actively participate in a support structure with others.
• Who has the desire to participate to change the field they are working in.
• No previous academic merits are needed, however, the applicant needs to show that they have the equivalent merits in their practice (e.g. through having shown works in an established or DIY scene, autodidactic research, etc.).